When it comes to selling things online - in this case, Transformers - the lowball has to be one of the worst aspects to deal with. Granted, when you don't set a price and leave it up to the buyer to name his/her own price, you want their offer to be reasonable and within the amount you originally spent.

I'm sure that many of you can relate to the experience of taking on losses or getting lowballed, but what happens when the prices are set and you'd like to remain firm on them? Then someone makes you a low offer anyway without considering the charges to ship, paypal fees, finding suitable boxes/packaging, etc.

I'd like to think that I'm fairly negotiable when it comes to pricing the Transformers that I sell (might not be ideal but still). In fact, I'm almost never looking to make a profit. I'll typically try to break even with what I spent originally. Or I try to keep the prices reasonable so as not to intimidate other buyers. But I hate it when you give someone an inch and they expect a mile. I also hate it when people try to whittle the price down to the point that it's practically free.

I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. What are some your pet peeves when selling online, especially when it pertains to collectible action figures?

 

I hear where you are coming from however it is also a peeve when you know that someone is selling the item at a ridiculously high price and they charge an arm and a leg for shipping as well.

 

I often think about pricing my stuff, but they all have a certain centimental value, and i dont want to sound like a prick because my Classics hound is 30 bucks just cuz i love him.

 

My two cents on it are:

1)I think lowballing is pretty douchey , BUT there is always a chance that the person bidding has NO IDEA of the value. I know that offering $125 for a MISB Fort. Max. is INSANE...but someone else might not.

2)Honestly...if you expect a certain amount, give people at least an idea of what you want for it. You should be open to some negotiation though

 

Can't see the problem, myself. You must have an idea of what you're prepared to sell an item for. If someone comes in below that, give them your best price and make it clear that no further reduction is available. Problem solved.

 

But what if you have set prices and people are still naming their own prices for significantly less? I mean, I'm cool with haggling, but I'm not going to an entire figure away for free (or significantly less than what I paid)...if that makes sense.

For example: Selling an Alternator Mirage for $50 + S&H and someone asks if I can sell it to them for $30 shipped.

 

Post in your topic whether or not you're open to haggling. If you're not, simply put in your post "All prices are fixed and not open to negotiation. Any post or PM attempting to haggle will not be replied to."

It doesn't really sound like you're cool with haggling at all. If you're cool with haggling, you have a price that you post and a lower price in your head that is the minimum you'll accept. The person who contacts you probably doesn't expect to get the item for that price, as they have a higher price in their head that it the maximum they'll go to. So you respond with a price lower than your posted price but higher than their offer and hopefully the two of you come to a compromise you're both happy with.

 

I gotta agree with that. Personally, I'm always a little annoyed when I see a for sale post and no prices are posted, and then reading further and seeing the phrase "no lowballing, cause I know what this stuff is worth." If you want a certain amount for what you're selling, then post that as the price. If you're flexible, then leave the price blank but be prepared for offers well below market value.

 

Yea, I was open to haggling for a while, but I might have to do that since I'm really trying hard to break even on what I spent. Some of the offers just got a little out of hand.

 

Ok, kinda random, but would any of you pay 150 + S/H for Alternators Meister, Deadend, Swindle, and Windcharger?

 

I guess you could do that, but, at the same time, you might not get any business if you don't haggle a little.

 

I definitely know that tacking on a paypal fee is a bit of a turn-off as well.

 

For some of the bigger items 50+, it's not that bad because you usually can make enough to cover the costs. The trouble comes when you sell a deluxe/voyagers for 7-13 bucks, get w/ a dollar paypal fee and then they want you to sell it for 5-10 shipped. Shipping is the nature of the beast and TBH, I would rather not have to deal with shipping.

The funny things are trades where someone wants you to give the farm for them to give hardly nothing.

The other thing that gets me is when someone posts something in the want thread, you pm them and they say can you hold onto it for a while. Seriously? Why post that want it then??

 

The thing to do is offer what you're selling for higher than you originally spent, then say you're negotiable, and try to remain on the profit side of the deal. I've sold things off for half of what it should have been but it doesn't make me mad. There's also the times that I won't drop below what I KNOW it's worth, otherwise I'll just hang onto it until it gets the price I want. Also always make sure you're non-negotiable on items that include shipping, unless it's a bunch of items

 

Lowballing doesn't bother me so much. Everyone wants to get the cheapest price on whatever they buy. I do agree with what I quoted above. Nothing gets on my nerve worse than buyers that, first get you to wait so they can pay you, and then constantly try to renegotiate the deal previously reached.

 

I get annoyed when people don't want to pay shipping. It's not cheap, and I understand not wanting to pay, but man, I'm tired of picking up the bill.

It's a pain in the ass to ship things. I don't necessarily hold it against anyone, I just wish that everyone who has bought something had also sold and shipped something so they'd be sympathetic. Would be nice to not feel like a douche for asking for actual shipping.

Although, I've gotta say, most people are cool with it. I'd say about 30% of people try to get a deal on shipping, which is not so bad. It just sucks when that 30% comes all at once.

I must say though, as a negotiating tool, I've offered to pick up the shipping cost more than once.

 

I don'y like either high or low issues dicussed here , Lowballing, everyone wants to get the best deal they can but it should not be an the expense of the seller having to take a loss on the Item, Id love to get a Fort Max MISB for $150 shipped but its not gonna happen , and as for the grossly over priced items they just piss me off, people trying to take advantage of people when they have a rare TF, the ones that are firm at those prices are the worst, they person is willing to haggle on price and cut a better deal then thats fine but if they want an insane amount and won't budge that just ticks me off, especially as it can cause other people to raise the prices on the same items they have which inturn artificially raises the accepted value of said item

 

I lowballed once, but that was because I was asking to spend all I had even though I knew it wasn't enough. It wasn't for the sake of being a jerk or saving money. But I regret it.  

 

If you're seriously offering what you can afford, I don't see a problem. It's only when someone is trying to get a MISB Fort Max for 75p and a packet of Rolos I'd take offense.